PLN 65 billion will go to Poland to deal with the effects of the ETS2 introduction. We will have time to spend this money from 2026 to 2032. Such a large amount is provided for for our country with the EU social climate fund; We will be his greatest beneficiaries of all Member States. However, before this happens, the European Commission must, however, accept a document in which we will describe the concept of supporting support.
The deadline for submitting a climate-social plan (also called the social climate plan) is June 30. The ministry of funds and regional policy responsible for its preparation on June 6 presented the 313 pages of the project and began public consultations, which will last until the end of the month. Giving the plan before Deadlin, taking into account the need to make any changes, so it will not be possible, but compared to perturbations that have been experiencing, for example, a national plan in the field of energy and climate, for several months, e.g. The delay may not be great.
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“Not for transformation at the expense of less wealthy”
The ETS2 system, including compulsory trade in CO2 emissions, buildings and individual transport, as well as smaller energy and industrial plants, is one of louder and more controversial elements of European green order and the Fit for 55 system.
The predictions of experts, but also the European Commission itself are unambiguous – the provisions adopted in 2023 that are to become effective in two years, raise the prices of heating and fuel, because entities obliged to buy rights will transfer their costs to customers.
The topic has returned more than once in our pages. Last year, we cited calculations showing the increase in gas heating costs for the average family by 6.3 thousand. PLN in the years 2027-2030, we recently informed about the report of the Transport & Environment (T& E) organization, which focuses on the increase in the costs of transport fuels, but also shows Possibilities related to spending revenues from ETS2. According to T&O, these should largely supply the transformation, i.e. also improving the quality of public transport or increasing the accessibility of electric vehicles.
The Social Climate Fund is to serve these goals. In the case of the Polish draft plan, the plan assumes the allocation of the maximum possible part of funds allocated to us for shielding activities, i.e. direct compensation for people who will have to pay more for heating and transport from 2027.
We will allocate 37.5 percent for this from the entire budget. As Jan Szyszko, deputy minister of funds and regional policy, said, “There is no consent to carry out energy transformation at a higher cost of less affluent people“.
15 percent It will be distributed at the regional level. The plan provides for financing the exchange of heat sources and improving the energy efficiency of buildings, including micro -enterprises, provides investments in social and municipal construction and also includes activities such as the purchase of new rail and bus rolling stock, expansion of bicycle infrastructure or investments in new stops and stations.
Energy communities
We talked to experts present at a conference, during which the MFIPR presented a draft plan. Michał Wojtyło, an analyst for ubbby politicians at the Reform Institute, assesses the document as a “correct” and potential to improve in the course of ongoing consultations.
– It is good that this is a multi -spectory document covering instruments from various areas of public policy. Both energy and transport poverty are multidimensional phenomena, so they need integrated solutions. It is worth praising the component of social and municipal construction – this is a real offer for people at risk of energy and transport poverty. Such an offer can help solve both problems at the same time. It is also pleased by the Ministry of the Direct Power Voucher project, which will temporarily relieve the increase in the costs of living for the most sensitive energy consumers – comments the expert.
However, it draws attention to the dubious age criterion when granting vouchers. – a better solution would be to give more weight – with the obligatory demonstration of an individual or local heat source – Energy medium criterion. People heating coal will be exposed to up to three times higher fees than those using gas – he adds.
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Anna Frączyk, a lawyer from the Client Earth Foundation, reminds that in Poland energy costs occupy an average of the second position in household expenses. Our interlocutor appreciates the inclusion of energy communities in the project, where the ministry wants to allocate PLN 300 million. It is about pilot projects in which it will be created 80 communities covering 400 households.
– That's great news! Energy communities are still not very recognizable in Poland, and Nothing promotes them more effectively than well -functioning pilot projectswhich provide real benefits to their members. Although the project does not indicate this directly, I hope that it is about energy cooperatives. It is this model that gives the greatest benefits, including The possibility of settling energy in the net-metering system (energy settlement introduced into the network based on its quantity-editor's note), and exemption from the distribution fees-says Frączyk.
– The municipalities forming them will be able to create Community renewable energy installations – e.g. a heat pump with photovoltaics – and enable local residents – especially in a difficult economic situation and threatened with energy poverty – the use of a joint renewable energy installation, e.g. by transferring a part of produced energy or enabling participation in the energy community – explains the expert.
As part of pilot projects, there is also a component related to education and expert support. – in Poland, energy cooperatives are still a new and little -known topic; Interested people will be useful to help professionals who will conduct them through all administrative complexities – adds Frączyk.
What about buses?
What about the transport component? Urszula Stefanowicz, an expert of the climate coalition and the Ecological Club, Mazowieckie District appreciates the introduction of definitions transport poverty -The project captures them as “the inability of persons and households to cover transport costs (…) or difficulties in this area, or lack of access or limited access to those persons or households to transport necessary so that they have the opportunity to use basic services and implement socio-economic activities (…)”.
– Without definition, we could not use support for transport development. It also shows demand and supply element – The level of income, but also the availability of public transport – says Stefanowicz. In this context, the expert is skeptical about the planned purpose of larger amounts of funds for rail transport.
– investments in rolling stock or railway infrastructure relate to more recipients, so they are theoretically more effective, However, the largest communication exclusion applies to railroad areas (where it will not develop for various reasons), where bus lines should appear – explains.
Michał Wojtyło is the same. – In the context of the fight against transport poverty, it is crucial to support bus journeys and transport on demand in areas where public communication is very rare or not at all today. This is more important than co -financing a very capital -intensive railway. The problem is especially about rural areas – says the expert.
Urszula Stefanowicz adds that the project provides for funding not only for zero -emission, but also low -emission vehicles. – It is not known exactly what fuels to walk here, however, this seems to be contrary to the goals of the plan, i.e. reducing the weights incurred for heating and transport – he states.
Programs less effective without reforms
The issue of lack of reforms returns in the statements of all interlocutors. The plan of the plan proposes to use the social climate fund to co -finance new or existing programs (such as “clean air”), but it does not provide for lasting legislative or institutional changes.
– Without appropriate reforms, the efficiency of programs may be limited. The fight against energy poverty will be more effective if we unlock the development of energy cooperatives in cities, allow them to sell energy and adapt the public procurement law, which will increase the capabilities of local governments. The current wording of the regulations may cause that despite the interest in some entities wanting to create energy communities will be deprived of such a possibility – indicates Anna Frączyk.
-Ministry seems to be very cautious after the experience of the KPO (the socio-climate plan is sometimes compared to the national reconstruction plan-editor's note), when the implementation of some reforms turned out to be problematic. However, the forms of investment support will only reach selected people – necessarily in one municipality to the investment supported from the social climate fund will come and not another. Meanwhile, from the reform, e.g. a public public transport system, through, among others The ordering of the management structure of the management, the division of competences and the principles of cooperation between the organizers of transport, the majority of society could benefit. The announcement of undertaking work on such a process could significantly strengthen the overall effect of implementing the plan – comments Urszula Stefanowicz.
Michał Wojtyło notes that the European Commission recommends entering persistent reforms in the plan.
– the evaluation of the project will last about five months; We'll see what the answer will be. However, it was recommended to create system concepts – Even existing instruments such as “clean air” should be supplemented with innovations, e.g. additional criteria for people most affected by the ETS2 system – he says.
It reminds that the socio-climate plan covers the perspective of seven years. – We have time from 2026 to 2032. Not everything must happen at the same time. However, it is worth entering in the document to create e.g. a coherent national transport system on demand or reform of granting add -ons related to energy poverty – he adds.
Plenipotentiary for just transformation
Wojtyło is also in favor of taking into account the ways of spending the remaining outside the Social Climate Fund – revenues from the ETS2 system. It also reminds of the postulate formulated by the Reform Institute in the report of January 2025 – the appointment of a government representative for just transformation.
The scope of his tasks could include both the spending of the Social Climate Fund in response to the entry into force of the ETS2, as well as a fair transformation in a narrower approach, e.g. in the scope of transformation of coal regions. – We postulated that the proxy should be attached to the Chancellery of the Prime Ministerwhich would provide him with adequate political and coordination weight – says Wojtyło.
Can the announced reconstruction of the government be the right opportunity for this? – If the number of ministries actually decreases, a potential representative could be easier for an inter -sectoral look and better access to information – he concludes. Recall – in the EU forum Poland is in favor of postponement of the ETS2 entry into force while maintaining the date of launching the social climate plan.
